Complete pass through is the most important aspect of recovering a deer. Mechanical broad-heads lose energy in blade deployment and therefore pass through energy is lost. Those archery folks that keep it inside 20 yards are just fine with mechanical broad heads because you still have the energy you need to get complete pass through. However, out to 30 plus yards the loss in energy is tremendous and a high angle shot without pass through leaves little blood and makes for a tough tracking job. It makes me cringe when I watch hunting shows and someone shoots a deer and it only looks like about four inches of the arrow penetrated. That makes a tough tracking job. I don't shoot mechanical broad heads because it reduces my percentages of getting a complete pass through. I shoot thunderheads and they have served me well.

Shot 90 grain 4-blade Muzzys for years. No complaints. Tried Rage 2 blade last year. Shot 2 deer with them. Not as impressed with them as I was hoping, or every one told me I'd be. Didn't buy any more this year.

rage's are GREAT iff'n ya wanna gut shoot

What are you saying? The Rage does not have good penetration so you have to shoot where there is nothing but soft tissue?

You are joking about gut shooting...right?

Isn't that one of there sayings? "Expand your kill zone"

totally agree...i shoot 80 grain thunderheads and they work great for me iv never had a bad bloodtrail...but im only 10 and have only killed 4 deer so...lol..but they have always worked good for me

10 years old and 4 bow kills........you get 'em young man!!!

heck ya,good for you kid!

over the years I've killed God knows how many deer with a bow...bowhunting is my absolute favorite deer hunting...and I've only not recovered one. And that wasnt because I used a specific broadhead, it was because of poor shot placement, my arrow didnt hit its mark, for whatever reason. No matter what you prefer to use, its all about shot placement plain and simple. Patience and practice pays off big. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I know what I have learned from past experiences. My bow blows arrows through deer, mechanical, or fixed broadheads and no I am not talking gut shots, or inside 20 yard shots. mechanicals seem to fly a bit more true for me, and are just as effective.

Found the Rage failure video I had and posted it on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7InOyMlyCA&feature=plcp

Also took a snapshot of the arrow impact from the video. I added a red dot to highlight the point of impact as seen below.



Distance: about 15 yards from treestand about 20 feet high.
Bow: Diamond Iceman 60 lb. draw.
Arrow: Easton AAC Pro-Hunter

I've used the 3 blade for the last 4 or 5 years. I've never had any problems with them. I shot this deer last year at 25 yards quartering away. Hit a touch low, but the deer didn't know that. It passed through and exited just in front of the off side shoulder. He made it 25 yards.
Every animal, except 1, has left a great blood trail. The deer that didn't leave a good blood trail was hit low in the shoulder and I didn't get an exit. He only went 60 yards.
On average, the animals I've shot with the 3 blade rage have died around 50 yards after being hit.
I shoot a 2007 PSE x-force 70 lbs, 30" draw.

Wonder why you have problems when no one else does???? You say you had a head fail to open, don't see how that is possible! In a post a few months ago you stated that you like to shoot deer in the shoulder? Makes us wonder about your true experience. I've never seen a blade broken nor have any of my friends. Have seen a couple bent up blades, but none broken and if you added up all the deer those friends and myself have taken it is over 50 with no problems. We are going to the new rage shock collars this year to keep the blades down until they hit.

with my experience rage is good but could have few changes made to it.

The blades after one shot are done if you hit a rib. but when the blades dont hit anything hard you can only use them twice. I used to use NAP SPITFIRES 125 grain and could shoot several deer with one broadhead wiith out changing it.

on the other hand..... when I have connected to the 9 deer I have shot with the RAGE 2. It has been devistating and do not run more than 30 yards. I had a 6-7 inch entry wound on a six pointer I shot last year at 30 yards. I like the rage 2 broadheads, I have not had an issue other than replacement of the blades.

I will never shoot em again. The only elk I lost was shot with oneat 26 yards hit well was never recovered. Arrow never penetrated past the ribs. The next weekend I shot a large bull and the blades never opened. Double lung shot it was the hardest tracking job I have ever had. infact lack of blood had me believing I missed until a buddy saw the elk leave the canyon with arrow in him.

I will stick with muzzy 125 in 3 blade, the exact same set up took a 6x6 at 58 yards with a complete pass through using the muzzy.

The more complicated thing get the more likely there will be a failure.

I hate them. Not reliable enough for me. If you hit any bone whatsoever, they are designed to bounce off rather than power through. Obviously if it is a good vital shot, any broadhead will do the job, but it seems the difference is that on the off target shots, rage is more effective in the guts area, whereas other broadheads are much more effective in shoulder or rib shots. I much prefer spitfires. Although they are also considered a mechanical head, it is a much simpler design and much more sturdily built in my opinion.

i cant beive no one has mentioned g5 montecs imo they are the best broad head for flight i dont care how big the hole is as long as my arrow goes where i want it to and i get a pass through not saying i dont like rage just hated having to put new orings on because i lost my practice head btw 2 blades are the way to go also for good penetration i have found slick/grizz tricks are verry good to

My exp. was bad, but it was operator error: Make absolutely certain your arrow shafts are long enough. I missed a doe at 10 yds. because the tip of a blade hit my rest at full draw and popped the blade out of place. They don't fly too good when partially open...

I used to shoot Muzzys and loved them....I now shoot Rage and love them....It all boils down to shot selection...I had a Rage hit a front leg bone at 15 yds out of a 70lb bow and it deflected the arrow into the brisket for a nonlethal shot and had the same with a Muzzy a few years earlier. I gutshot a deer with a muzzy...she jumped the string....and I found her 3 days later. Made a poor gut shot with a Rage and found the deer 3 hours later. All deer that I hit with a Muzzy through the goods died within 75-150 yds.....The ones from the rage 20-50 yds....the bigger the hole, the faster the blood can flow.....I shot my buck at 15 yds last year, he ran 40 yds....upon field dressing I found that the 2 blade had sliced his heart completely free of all the arteries and veins that lead to it.....wouldnt use a Rage for elk or moose as I dont think they are tough enough.

thats a nother reason why i quit shooting them i would rather know my arrow is gonna fly right each time and not have that thought in the back of my mind that it MIGHT not work

Never had a problem with the 2-blades. Every deer I've shot has tipped over in sight, and if they hadn't, a blind man could've followed the blood trail.